Flatwork folding means



Aug..18, 1959 J. R. PETRE FLATwoRK FOLDING MEANS Filed Jan. 31, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 T H H 1-nmmmm HIE.

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FLATWORK FOLDING MEANS Filed Jan. 31; 1955 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 m mvrm Jomv R Par/vs Aug. 18, 1959 J. R. PETRE 2,900,185

I FLATWORK FOLDING MEANS Filed Jan. 31, 1955 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WTOIPIYEYS FLATWORK FOLDING MEANS John R. Petre, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Cincinnati, Glue, a corporation of Ohio Application January 31, 1955, Serial No. 485,231

7 Claims. (Cl. 270-62) The invention relates to the folding of laundered articles, and is particularly adapted to the folding of flatwork articles such as diapers, towels and handkerchiefs, although the invention is not necessarily limited to articles of this size.

While the prior art has disclosed many types of folding devices, the ones more commonly used may be classified in just a few general classes. Of these I may mention, for example, a simple type in which the article is laid on a hinged plate, one hinged portion then swinging to close in book-like fashion and produce a transverse fold. As an extension of this design, a double transverse fold may be made, for example, at the one-third and two-third points, by utilizing a fixed central member and two swinging plates hinged along two spaced parallel swing axes on the central member. These two folds are necessarily made consecutively, not simultaneously, to prevent interference between the swinging plates, because the first plate must return to starting position to leave room for the second plate. The operation is relatively slow, and each swinging plate has an idle period while returning to starting position.

Another Well known folding apparatus uses a pair of contacting pinch rolls, across the bite of which a flat- Work article is advanced by conveying means, and when the fold' line of the articles comes to registry with the rolls a swinging blade, or other motive means, introduces the article into the bite of the rolls. As a development from this type I may mention folding apparatus shown in US. Patent No. 1,607,407, granted November 16, 1926 wherein successive backward and forward swings of a blade in a roughly horizontal plane carries said blade across the path of descent of a moving flatwork article. A single fold may be made in draped fashion over the blade on a single swing, or a double fold can be executed by the forward and rearward swing. The Alba type folder usually operates in conjunction with a pair of pinch rolls which accept the article at the termination of either the single swing or the forward-andreturncycle of movement of the blade.

There are of course types of folding mechanism other than those mentioned herein above.

An object of the present invention is to provide folding means whereby two folds are simultaneously produced by a single stroke of a folding member.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide folding means as defined in the last preceding paragraph which simplifies the, apparatus heretofore considered necessary for a double fold by eliminating certain previously used elements.

Another object of the invention is to effect an increase in productive capacity without increasing the speed of the operating parts.

A. further object of the invention is to produce a double fold", either two parallel folds or two folds at right angles to each other, by a single swing of a folding member.

A further object of the invention involving one embodiment of the invention, is to provide folding mechanism "ice in which the terminal point of one operating swing is the starting point for the next operating swing, thereby promoting still greater efficiency since there is no time consumed in an idle swing of the operating members. A

.Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a study of the following description of several embodiments of my invention, in conjunction with appropriate drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a folding device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view, with the housing partially broken away, ofthe device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of av portion of the' fluid pressure control system.

Fig. 4. is a top plan view showing the folding blade in operated position. A

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5.--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of another embodiment of my invention. 7

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken on the. line 77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 7a isv a detail sectional view somewhat enlarged, showing a part of the fluid pressure control system.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the folder shown I in Fig. 6.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 schematically illustrate difierent types of folds achieved by the embodimentillustrated in Figs. 6 to 8.

As will become more apparent as the description proceeds, there are two types of foldachievable by use of theapparatus herein to be described, namely the type in which two. folds are effected at right angles to each other (Figs. 1 through 5)' and the type whereina multiple fold is effected, the foldlines being parallel. within the same plane.

Proceeding now to a description ofthe embodiment shown in Figs. 1 through 5, I show a folder equipped with suitable operatingand control means, and adapted to execute two folds at right angles. to each other, one fold being executed along a line approximately coincident with the opening 20 (Fig. l) and the other coincident with the slot 21 which is'at right angles to opening 20.

The movable folding. element comprises aplate member 22 which, as: will appear, carries the folding blade 23. The blade is actually supported by a thin metal sheet 24 which is attached to the upwardly flanged. edges 22b of plate 22, and which, for greater flexibility, has a cutaway opening 24a near its center. This, in effect, provides a spring-like suspension for blade 23, the purpose for this being later described. Folding plate 22 swings about an axis substantially coincident with the front edge 220 of the plate. While plate 22 is shown as being of shallow, dished form, it could be a screen or grid-covered frame. As shown, there are some spaced holes 22d in plate 22 to permit passage of air during swing of the plate, whereby to cause the flatwork article to be held against the plate during folding movement thereof- The plate is, carried near itsedge 220 by a pair of ears or gudgeon members 25, to which are attached stub shafts 26 (Fig. 2) journalled in bearings in the side frame 27. A pinion 28 is pinned to-each shaft 26, and cooperating therewith are gear segments 29, 29a secured to a cross shaft 30, also journalled in bearings on side frame 27. Shaft 30 has an operating lever 31 connected by .a clevis to the piston rod of a fluid pressure cylinder motor 3 2, which is preferably powered by compressed an.

A tabletop portion 35 is formed of smooth sheet metal supported on frame members 27. It is, divided longitudinally by the. slot2'1 heretofore, mentioned. C05,

operating with slot 21 are a pair of rolls 36, 37 which are supported, in cantilever fashion, at the right end (Figs. 1, 2 and 4). Roll 36 is an idler roll rotatably carried on a shaft on top of a swingable arm 38 which has a shaft portion 38a journalled in the end frame parts 39 and 40. This roll 36 is biased by spring 4-1 towards contact with drive roll 37. Roll 37 is rotatably carried in a support 42, and has on its end a sprocket driven by chain 43 which in turn is. driven by a sprocket on the shaft of motor 44. The rolls 36 and 37 have raised gripping bands 36a, 37a of rubber or similar material to frictionally move a folded article introduced into their bite. The blade 23 is suitably notched to cooperate with these gripping bands without being caught by the rolls.

Folding action by blade 23 is of course actuated by swinging movement of plate 22. While this movement could be achieved by any suitable linkage connecting the blade to plate 22, I prefer the means heretofore noted wherein the blade is resiliently carried on plate 22, thereby eliminating the necessity of special means to move the blade. Referring to Fig. 5, it will be apparent that as plate22 swings down to a stop at the position shown, as will be more fully described below, the resiliency of the metal sheet 24, which carries the blade, permits the blade to swing from the full line to the dotted line position. Displacement of the cut-out 24a towards the axis of plate swing counteracts the normal tendency of blade portions further from the axis to achieve greater impetus from centrifugal force, and proper proportioning and positioning of the cut out permits equalization of downward thrust of the blade. Tabs 47 prevent outward flexing of sheet 24.

As heretofore mentioned, movement of plate 22 is responsive to energization of cylinder 32, which in turn causes operation of arm 31 attached to shaft 30. Cylinder 32 is energized as follows. I have provided a slide valve 48, best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, which has a centrally, disposed fluid pressure inlet pipe 49 and outlet pipes 50 and 51 spaced one each side of pipe 49. Two slide valve heads 52 and 53 are carried on plunger rod 54 which is operated by one arm 55 of a pivoted bell crank lever, the other arm 56 being manually operatable. Movement of rod 54 to the left (Fig. 3) establishes communication between inlet pipe 49 and outlet pipe 50 thereby admitting fluid presure to the left end of power cylinder 32, causing piston 32a and its operating rod 32b to move to the right, .and swinging arm 31 and gear segment 29a counterclockwise, so as to rotate pinion 28 clockwise, and to swing plate 22 clockwise from the idle position of Fig. 1 to the terminal folding position of Figs. 4 and 5. Gear segment 29a is dimensionally so related to its pinion 28, that a 90 degree swing of the segment effects a ISO-degree swing of pinion 28 and plate 22.

Near the end of its rotational arc,'a finger 57 attached to segment 29a strikes a pin or roller 58 on the end of rod 54, pulling rod 54 to the right, cutting off communication between pipes 49 and 50, and establishing communication between pipes 49 and 51. This applies power to the right end of power cylinder 32 (Fig. 2), pushing piston 32a to the left, moving arm 31 and segment 29a clockwise, and rotating pinion 28 counterclockwise so as to cause a return swing of plate 22 to idle position. During such return swing another finger 60 attached to segment 29a strikes roller 58, and returns rod 54 to the idle position shown in Fig. 3, putting all operating elements in proper position for the next operation.

Operation of the folder shown in Figs. 1 through will be fairly obvious from the foregoing description. The operator stands at the left end of the folder (Fig. 1) which is usually designated as the front end. He places an article centrally upon the working surface, half of the article being on idle plate 22 and half on table 35,- being guided by any predetermined markers such as the slots etc., already described, or any guide lines which may be outlined on the surfaces of 22 and 35. He then lifts control handle 56 so as to institute swing of plate 22 as already described and to cause a transverse fold along a line coincident with space 20. The control parts, including gear 29a, pinion 28, valve heads 52 and 53, and operating fingers 57 and 60, are so proportioned and related that plate 22 never swings to contact with table 35, but stops just short of it as shown in Fig. 5, and almost immediately reverses and returns. The abrupt stopping of plate 22 causes the blade 23 to continue its movement through gap 21 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, thereby tucking the once-folded article into the bite of pinch rolls 36 and 37, and thus producing a longitudinal fold at right angles to the transverse fold. The operation is so rapid that the transverse and longitudinal folds may be regarded as being formed simultaneously, and they are of course effected by the same swing of the folding plate.

The twice-folded .article slides down a chute 65 onto a set of conveyor belts 66 (Figs. 1 and 2) which are supported at one end on a roll 67 driven by a sprocket chain 43, the hub 68 of the sprocket appearing on Figs. 1 and 2. The conveyor belts 66 may extend to an associated stacking device, or may deliver the article to a table or other suitable disposal station.

This type of folder could, if desired, be readily arranged to make an additional transverse fold by having a plain folding plate swingably mounted at the right edge 35a (Fig. l) of table 35. This plate would be swung inwardly at the start, to produce a transverse fold at edge 35a, and leave a double ply on top of table 35. This extra plate would then return, and plate 22 would execute its operation exactly as previously described. The end result would be an article having two folds, for example at the one-third and two-third transverse lines, followed by one longitudinal fold.

We now proceed to a description of the second embodiment of a folder of this general type, namely the embodiment in which all fold lines are in the same direction. This form is particularly useful in folding articles in which the length materially exceeds the width, although the design is not limited thereto. Referring briefly to Figs. 9, 10 and 11, the View of Fig. 9 shows a four-ply fold on the article 74; effected by a single clockwise swing of plate 71 through one hundred and eighty degrees,'in conjunction with pinch rolls 72, 73. A return swing of plate 71 can then produce similar folds on the next article, in conjunction with pinch rolls 74, 75, so that there is no idle swing of plate 71, its folding blade 76 being twoedged.

Fig. 10 shows the plate 71 adapted to produce a threeply fold on an article 77, the only difference residing in the length of article 77 and the manner in which its length is distributed prior to folding.

Fig. 11 shows plate 71 adapted to produce a single fold on article 78 by merely causing it to be inserted in pinch rolls 72, 73.

Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, 7a, and 8, the blade 76 is formed integrally withplate 71 and extends in both directions therefrom to provide blade portions 76a and 7612. Plate 71 is of thin metal, but it encases a stiffener member 7 8, the latter having out- Wardly extending wings 78a, 78b which carry stub shafts 79 journalled in side frame bearings 80. Shaft 79 (Fig. 8) has fixed thereto a pinion 81 operatable by means of a gear segment 82 having a lever portion 82a. As will appear, this is responsive to operation of either power cylinder 83 or 84.

By reason of the disposition of the blade 76 parallel to the axis of swing of plate 71, the blade need not be recessed. As heretofore described in connection with Figs. 9 to ll, blade '76 cooperates with two sets of pinch rolls 72, 73 and 74, '75, so that an article is folded by a swing in each direction, and one swing in one direction can produce a four-ply fold.

The table top which is fragmentarily seen in Fig. 7 is formed from sheet metal 87 supported by frame portions 88', the top 87' being slotted at 89 in registry with pinch rolls 74-, 75. Roll 75 is a driving roll, carried by brackets 90 fixed to the frame by bolts 91. A sprocket 92 is fixed to its end driven by a link chain 93 which also drives a sprocket 94 on roll 73 of the other pair. One flight of this chain is in operative engagement with a sprocket 95 compounded on a sheave 96 which isdriven by a belt 97 from motor 98. The other flight operatively engages a sprocket 99 which is on a conveyor roll 100 (Fig. 7) supporting one end of a'set of conveyor ribbons 101. Sheave- 96 and its sprocket 95 act as, a speed reducing means between motor 98 and the various rolls above identified. 1 Operation of the folder shown in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive is as follows. The operator standing at the front of the machine (bottom, Fig. 6) places an article on plate 71 and table 77 as shown schematically in Fig. 9. He then lifts operating manual 104 which extends through aslot 105 in-the frame and is attached to one end of lever 106 pivoted at 103. Lever 106has a finger 106a for operating the. valve stem 1090f a combinationair valve 107' which is supplied with pressure fluid from a pipe 108. Depression of valve stem 109 allows air to flow from pipe 108 to a pipe 110 (Fig. 8) to an air cylinder motor 84 previously mentioned. A spring 113 normally holds lever 106 in retracted, idle position. Lever 106 is also subject to the action of a dash-pot type delay device 114, designed to allow unrestricted upward movement when valve manual 104 is lifted, butwith a ball 115 seating downward on a vent aperture 114a (Fig. 7a) so that when valve 107 is operated and the manual lever released, the air entrapped under piston 116 in dash pot 114 can escape only at a predetermined rate around the slightly loose-fitting piston. Thus the operator may raise manual 104 to initiate a fold and proceed to the picking up of another article, the valve 107 being held operated by lever 106 long enough to admit the required compressed air to motor 84 for completing a stroke.

As previously indicated, motor 84 has a piston rod 117,

. the rod end being preferably provided with a roller 118,

or with a ball or other anti-friction device. The position of the various parts and the cylinder stroke are such as to apply force to arm 82a for only about one-half of the folding swing, the plate 71 completing its swing through momentum. A spring 119 inside motor 84 returns the piston at the end of its stroke.

As plate 71 approaches the end of its 180 swing, the supporting wings 78a first make contact with resilient buttons 120 which may be springs, or soft rubber projections, and immediately thereafter the wings come to rest on resilient pads 121. The notched blade portion 76b inserts the flatwork article through the slot 89 into the grip of the pinch rolls 72, 73. Rolls 72 and 73 are mounted similarly to rolls 74 and 75 shown in Fig. 7 wherein roll 74 is an idler mounted on a swinging arm 122, and biased to contact with driven roll 75 by a tension spring 123. Contact with resilient pads 121 causes the plate 71 to back up slightly to a position such asindicated by dot-dash lines in Fig. 7, which is not essentim, but is desirable to give more clearance to the article. The folded piece after passing through the pinch rolls drops down slide 112 onto conveyor 101, and is transported thereon to anassociated stacker or other suitable delivery station. A

A folding cycle may then be completed by reverse swing of plate 71, and blade portion 76a, cooperating with the other set of pinch rolls 74, 75, by means of operating elements identical with those already described, and here shown as manual 128, air valve 129 supplied through pipe 130, and air motor 83. This next article after passing through pinch rolls 74, 75 will descend on slide 111 to conveyor 101. Certain operating elements herein shown as exposed are covered by suitable safety housings.

As previously mentioned, the embodiment just described, and shown in Figs. 6 to 8, provides a doubled output by reason of its capability of folding an article on each of the advance and return swings of the folding blade. Attention is again directed to Figs. 9, 10 and 11 which illustrate the versatility of this embodiment, as indicated by the end results obtainable from respectively different initial layouts of the flatwork article What I claim is:

1". A flatwork folder including a layout table having two fixed' planar portions and a movable planar portion, said movable portion being hingedly attached to. said fixed portions along a transverse axis between said fixed portions, each said fixed portion having a slot therethrough, said transverse axisextending between said slots, and said folder having a pair of folding rolls immediately beneath and parallel to each said slot, a folding member carried by said movable portion and disposed to be registrable with either said' slot so as to be extendable therethrough i'nto the bite of the folding rolls adjacent the registered slot when said movable portion is swung to a position immediately above and substantially parallel to thefixed portion having the last-named slot.'

2. A flatwork folder including alayout table having two fixed planar portions and a movable planar portion, said movable portion being hingedly attached to said fixed portion along a transverse axis between said fixed portions, each said fixed portion having a slot therethrough in the plane of the axis but parallel thereto in said plane said axis lying between said slots, 21 pair of folding rolls immediately beneath and parallel to each said slot, a folding member carried by said movable portion and disposed to be registrable with either said slot so as to be extendable therethrough into the bite of the adjacent pair of folding rolls when the movable portion is swung to a position immediately above either said slot.

3. A flatwork folder as defined in claim 2 wherein said folding member is fixed with respect to said movable portion, and has a part projecting from and perpendicular to the opposite faces of said movable portion, one such part cooperating with one pair of folding rolls and the other such part cooperating with the other pair of folding rolls.

4. A flatwork folder including a layout table, a swingable folding plate hingedly connected on said table along an axis transverse to the length of said table, whereby to define two table portions, one on each side of said axis, said folding plate being adapted to be swung alternately from a position overlapping one said table portion to a position overlapping the other said table portion, a slot in each said table portion, folding means carried by said folding plate adapted to register with and be extendable through either said slot when swung to superposition therewith, a pair of folding rolls beneath and parallel to each slot for cooperation with said folding member when it extends through the respective slot, power application means responsive to manual initiation for swinging said folding plate from a position overlying one said table portion to a position overlying the other said table portion, and time delay means efiective on said power application means for maintaining application of power for a time delay period after manual initiation is terminated.

5.A flatwork folder including a layout table having a fixed planar portion and a movable planar portion, said movable portion being hingedly attached to said fixed portion to provide an axis of swing transversely disposed across said layout table, said fixed portion having a slot therethrough, a pair of rotatable coacting folding rolls disposed immediately beneath and parallel to said slot, a folding blade carried by said movable portion and disposed to be registrable with said slot so as'to be extendable therethrough into the bite of said folding rolls when said movable portion is swung to a position immediately above and substantially parallel with said fixed portion, power application means responsive to manual initiation 7 for swinging said movable portion to a position overlying said fixed portion, and time delay means efiective on said power application means for maintaining application of power for a time delay period after manual initiation is terminated. 1

6. A flatwork folder including a layout table having a fixed planar portion and a movable planar portion, said movable portion being hingedly attached to said fixed portion to provide an axis of swing transversely disposed across said layout table, said fixed portion having a slot therethrough, a pair of rotatable coacting folding rolls disposed immediately beneath and parallel to said slot, a folding blade carried by said movable portion and disposed to be registrable with said slot so as to be extendable therethrough into the bite of said folding rolls when said movable portion carrying a part of said flatwork piece thereon is swung to a'position immediately above and substantially parallel with said fixed portion, stop means carried by said table and adapted to cause stoppage of said movable portion substantially at final folding position, whereby to produce a first fold at said axis of swing by swinging movement of said movable portion and 3 t a second fold of the once-folded article between said folding rolls, and means for permitting limited movement of said blade relative to said movable member whereby, when said movable member is swung to a stop above said fixed member, said blade continues to advance a limited distance through said slot.

7. A fiatwork folder as defined in claim 6 wherein the means for permitting limited movement of said blade relative to said movable member comprises a flexible metal support attached to said movable member and to said blade whereby, when said movable member is swung to a stop above said fixed member, said blade continues to advance a limited distance through said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 3,786 Milliken Jan. 4, 1870 303,255 Beach Aug. 12, 1884 1,806,125 Spohn May 19, 1931 1,850,994 Caldwell Mar. 29, 1932 

